PREVENTION is better than cure, emphasised Chief Minister Chow Kon, highlighting the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding one’s health and well-being.
Chow shared this during the presentation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) by the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Georgetown to the residents of Kedah Road Flats today.
“In most Asian countries, including Malaysia, heart disease is one of the leading causes of sudden heart attacks.
“Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in 2023 showed that ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in 2022, with 20,322 deaths, or 16.1% of the total 126,268 medically confirmed deaths.
“Engage in physical activities to avoid the three H’s, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar,” he added.
Apart from that, Chow also encouraged each and every individual to be equipped with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and the knowledge to use AED as they can save lives.
“CPR within 10 minutes of cardiac arrest may improve survival rate.
“It is important for communities to take part in programmes such as CPR and AED training,” said Chow.
Christopher Barnabas, vice-president of JAPC, ZOLL Medical Corporation lauded Penang for having the most AED devices and trained responders.
Barnabas who is also the lifetime president of CERT Georgetown, said that Penang has over 1,000 AEDs installed at public places, factories and workplaces.
“We have worked with other states in Malaysia, but Penang is the only state that has given an overwhelming response in AED installation initiative and training for first responders,” he said.
Also present were CERT Georgetown Lim Thiam Chong, and Jalan Kedah Complex chairman Abdul Wahab Shaik Mydin.
It is learned that the Kedah Road Flats has 6,000 residents.
Abdul Wahab stated that the AED installed at the Kedah Road Flats is also available for use during emergencies in the Padang Kota neighbourhood.
Below are the training sessions for CPR and AED usage:-
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix Siew Chia En
Video by Alissala Thian